WAR DEBT.

Waikato Times, Volume 101, Issue 16946, 8 November 1926, Page 5

WAR DEBT.

AMERICA’S GENEROSITY. MR BORAH’S CONTENTION. Depicting the generosity of the United States towards foreign Governments during the World War as having “no parallel,” William E. Borah (B.), Senator from Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, iu an address at Nampa (Idaho), declared the attitude of debtor nations would cause the Senate to reverse its decision and reject the World Court if it were voted on to-day. Senator Borah, referring to the contest on the League of Nations, said that as soon as this was over the League forces threw their strength behind the World Court. He pointed out that "vve have been drawn into the League of Nations in an indirect way, through entrance into the World Court", which he described as the agent, counsellor and attorney of the League of Nations, “which is controlled by thc'four Great Powers now writing us down as usurers.” “It is my judgment—and I venture it as a prophecy—that if we become a member of the World Court, and by advice and counsel come into participation in the political controversies of Europe, we shall come face to face with the same old problems of the League of Nations.” In reviewing the history of foreign debt settlements, Senator Borah, after showing that settlement of the French debt upon ihe present proposed basis will cancel 7.000,000.000 dollars of the 11,000,000,000 dollars European debt, said: “Logic discloses that the desire of the French amounts to cancellation in full." Discussing the. attitude of England and France towards the United States, the discourteous reception of American tourists during the last few months, and tlie adverse editorial and news comments of European newspapers, the Senator declared that the open letter of Georges Clenieneeau to President Goolidgc “must have struck harshly on all American ears.” M. Clcmcnceau’s letter asked that the settlement ol’ the French debt should not be treated as a commercial matter.